Old Roman Catholic Church in Great Britain

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Old Roman Catholic Church in Great Britain
Classification Western Christian
Orientation Independent Catholic
Theology Ultrajectine
Governance Episcopal
LeaderArchbishop William Myers
Region United Kingdom, Ireland
HeadquartersLondon
Founder Arnold Harris Mathew
Origin1910
London
Branched from Union of Utrecht (Old Catholic)
Official website oldromancatholic.org.uk

The Old Roman Catholic Church in Great Britain is an Independent Catholic church claiming descent from Arnold Harris Mathew in 1910.

Contents

Theology and practices

The church holds Catholic dogmas as held by the Church of Utrecht. These include belief, among other things, in the Nicene Creed, seven sacraments and apostolic succession. The church does not hold as dogma the Immaculate Conception, Papal Infallibility or the Assumption, but these may be believed privately. [1] Parishes use the Tridentine Mass for liturgy.

Leadership

Archbishop Arnold Harris Mathew led the original church after its establishment in 1910 until his death in 1919. He was succeeded by Archbishop Bernard Mary Williams who was in favour of reuniting the church with the Roman Catholic Church and existing as a "uniate" rite. At his death in 1952, the clergy elected Geoffrey Peter Thomas Paget King as his successor. However, there was already a bishop in the United Kingdom named Gerard George Shelley. Seeing no need for two bishops, the clergy elected him to succeed Williams. [2] Paget King was consecrated as a bishop by Shelley in 1960 and succeeded him as head of the church after Shelley had died. He was followed by Archbishop James Hedley Thatcher in 1982 and Archbishop Denis St Pierre.

The church is currently led by Archbishop Douglas Lewins, who succeeded to its headship in 1993. He is assisted by Bishop Howard Weston-Smart. The Society of Mercy is also an integral part of the church.

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Gerardus Gul served as the seventeenth Archbishop of Utrecht from 1892 to 1920. He is known for his role in assisting the persons who would later found the Polish National Catholic Church in the United States, as well as for consecrating Arnold Harris Mathew, the founder and first bishop of the Old Catholic Church in Great Britain.

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Geoffrey Peter Thomas Paget King (1917–1991) was Archbishop of the Old Roman Catholic Church in Great Britain. He was raised an Anglican but joined the church in 1943. He was ordained a deacon and priest in May 1947 by Archbishop Bernard Mary Williams. On 5 June 1960 he was consecrated by Archbishop Gerard Shelley assisted by Bishop Willibrord. He continued in this role and issued new Constitutions in February 1962. Archbishops Shelley and Marchenna did not ascent to the Constitutions. This, combined with Shelley's being resident in Rome caused a breach between the two. Archbishop King continued and became Archbishop of the Church. On Easter, 1965 Archbishop King combined his jurisdiction with that of Archbishop Wilfrid Barrington-Evans and King remained as Archbishop. He continued in this role until his death in 1991.

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References

  1. Moss, C.B. Old Catholics: Their Origins and History
  2. Myers, William. Old Roman Catholicism